New ZCP F80

[dmboone25]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Well...I have been hoping to get an M3 at some point, and that became a reality tonight. Check out the build below:

2017 F80 M3
DCT
Alpine White
CF Roof
Sakhir Orange Extended Leather
Competition Package
Lighting Package
Executive Package
20' 666M Wheels

I have been a BMW guy for most of my adult life...but I was really disappointed with my last one, the 235 (I refuse to call it an M). And so I decided to try a Porsche instead, and ended up in a 981 Cayman S roughly two years ago.

The Cayman has been the best car I have ever owned - the handling is great, the screaming F6 is very dramatic in terms of sound and response, truly a naturally aspirated wonder. It is also beautiful and gets a lot of attention....

I am lucky enough to have a buddy at work who has a ZCP F80 - and I drove it for the first time earlier this week - I have to admit I was really impressed. When looking at the 981 two years ago, I crossed shopped with the F80 and F82, but didn't think that the steering or chassis was as impressive on the M side as the 981 side. And so I went with the P car...

But the 981 is not very flexible in terms of usage, and is not very comfortable if you aren't driving hard and just for fun - I have to admit it that while it's a great car, it left me wanting for a slightly different experience. I think the ZCP M3 is exactly what I need. It is close in terms of steering and feel, at least the comp pack...and the ride is adjustable, along with the throttle and steering - I didn't have that on the 981. And while I know the 0T0 version of the N55 is different than the N55 I had in my 235, I cannot imagine it comparing to the S55...so the M2 fell off my radar as well.

The sound in the M3 is also improved with the ZCP...much more so than the base M3 and M4s that I drove a couple of years ago....and the S55, wow - what an engine, even keeping it within reason until the 1200 mile service. I love it...it's going to be a great experience.

The tech is on another level compared to my 981. Everything in the M3 is faster, more intuitive, and easier to use. Really impressive - and I am not a tech-driven buyer at all.

I love this thing. It's that good.

Also - I want to give a shout out to Mauricio @ Classic BMW in Plano, TX. He got me a great deal, and provided even better service. I've been chatting with him about the F80 for more than two years, and he always responded with requested information or price checks, even when I got a Porsche. He's a true enthusiast and a better guy - if you are anywhere near DFW and interested in a BMW, he's someone you should contact.

The eye candy:

[LukeM15]

Yay. Congrats!!! Enjoy welcome to the ZCP Family

[NewM3driver]

Many folks on the forum scoff at the thought that the competition package improved the F80. They refuse to believe it is anything more than marketing hype. They are wrong.

The M Gods at BMW knew they missed the mark, ever so slightly, with the first F8x cars, and they set out to make it right with the competition package. Anyone that has spent any time at all in an earlier F80 M3 or M4 and than gets into the new car can immediately feel a dramatic improvement. The funny thing is that feeling isn't short lived. The more time you spend with the ZCP car the more you realize that ALL the rough spots and short comings of the original F80 were addressed and remedied in the ZCP cars. It is more grown up, more honed, more refined... If you like cognac, the first F80 is a VSOP, and the competition package is an XO.

I think the M3 in ZCP guise is a really nice car. The perfect blend of performance, utility and comfort. There are faster cars, more comfortable cars, more expensive cars.... but for me, this car strikes a very nice balance between price, performance, daily drivability and comfort.

Welcome and best of luck with the new ride. Drive it safely and remember this. When you disable the traction control all the way, the F80 can and will bite you if you are not careful. It is faster and more powerful than it appears with the nannies watching your every move. Enough said. Enjoy!

[JibSTir13]

Congrats on the new ride.

[bonsta101]

congrats! same build almost. you'll love it.

[Agamemnon]

Nice build. Congrats on your new ride. Plus one on the comments regarding the competition package.

[Kief]

Yes, welcome to the ZCP side!

OP, I'm surprised you didn't go with an M2, unless I'm thinking of another guy with a similar screen name.

[RobC2]

Congrats. Build is very similar to mine aside from color. Which transmission did you go with? Maybe I missed it.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by RobC2

Congrats. Build is very similar to mine aside from color. Which transmission did you go with? Maybe I missed it.

DCT.

I've rowed my own gears for many years, which is a lot of fun...but the PDK and DCTs are so good now. Love it.

[KevinM]

Congratulations and welcome back.

[trackday96]

Welcome to the ZCP family! I have not been disappointed with any aspect of my zcp f80 (except maybe Apple Carplay); simply love it.

[ssuene93]

Welcome back and congrats on the ZCP.

[RobC2]

Originally Posted by rjwtkd

Welcome to the ZCP family! I have not been disappointed with any aspect of my zcp f80 (except maybe Apple Carplay); simply love it.

Yeah, I stopped using Carplay. Hopefully it will get better with time.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Congrats!

[amw896]

amazing car, congrats! Question though - why were you so disappointed with the m235i? i currently own and love it! Its my first BMW but I've driven several and find the 235i very similar to my friends e46 m3. Just curious what you really dislike about it or maybe what you like so much more about the m3 as I'm hoping to move into one possibly in 2019-2020.

[rosenbergendo]

Had an M235 for 2.5 years prior to M3 and I loved it. Great car. M3 is on a diff level for fit/finish and the overall specialness. M3 hides its weight very well.

[Sedan_Clan]

Congrats!

[RobC2]

Originally Posted by rosenbergendo

Had an M235 for 2.5 years prior to M3 and I loved it. Great car. M3 is on a diff level for fit/finish and the overall specialness. M3 hides its weight very well.

There is not much to hide, it is only a couple of hundred pounds for a much more usable and practical car.

[neilum]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

Many folks on the forum scoff at the thought that the competition package improved the F80. They refuse to believe it is anything more than marketing hype. They are wrong.

The M Gods at BMW knew they missed the mark, ever so slightly, with the first F8x cars, and they set out to make it right with the competition package. Anyone that has spent any time at all in an earlier F80 M3 or M4 and than gets into the new car can immediately feel a dramatic improvement. The funny thing is that feeling isn't short lived. The more time you spend with the ZCP car the more you realize that ALL the rough spots and short comings of the original F80 were addressed and remedied in the ZCP cars. It is more grown up, more honed, more refined... If you like cognac, the first F80 is a VSOP, and the competition package is an XO.

I think the M3 in ZCP guise is a really nice car. The perfect blend of performance, utility and comfort. There are faster cars, more comfortable cars, more expensive cars.... but for me, this car strikes a very nice balance between price, performance, daily drivability and comfort.

Welcome and best of luck with the new ride. Drive it safely and remember this. When you disable the traction control all the way, the F80 can and will bite you if you are not careful. It is faster and more powerful than it appears with the nannies watching your every move. Enough said. Enjoy!

I think you are exaggerating greatly the overall opinion of people who have non zcp cars. I think people understand the differences and improvements BMW made with the ZCP, but it's not a completely different car.

The ZCP sounds a little better, and puts the power down a little better but the base M3 is still a perfect blend of all of those things listed above, without the subtle improvements BMW made to the ZCP. It seems like you are alluding to the fact that the non zcp M3 are lacking or somehow flawed.

If I was new to M cars and trying to learn and educate myself, your post makes it sound like the base non comp cars are completely different cars overall which is just not true.

[BimmerBahn]

Congratulations! Very Purdy!

Cheers,

[csbear]

Congrats!

From one (previous) Cayman owner to another, that's one great combo: Cayman S + M3.

And for all the unsubstantiated flack BMW is getting nowadays from the likes of Motor Trend, Jalopnik, and other hack "media," the ZCP M3/M4 are still really, really good cars. Give me a manual (or DCT) F80/F82 over any bloated C63S AMG or Audi RS any day...

Enjoy!

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Well...I have been hoping to get an M3 at some point, and that became a reality tonight. Check out the build below:


The eye candy:

Looks great! Congrats!!!

I'm a bit surprised frankly at your disappointment in the M235i. If one is to believe the reviews and all the hype, it seems to be a competent car at worst. Can you elaborate?